ORANGE — The Fire Department will be collecting some kindling for a fire in Winchendon — kindling in the form of your Christmas trees.
For the third year, the Orange Fireman’s Relief Association will pick up and discard residents’ Christmas trees while raising money for local scholarships and organizations, a dinner for retired firefighters and extra equipment for the Orange Fire Department.
Any Orange resident may arrange for their tree to be picked up on Saturday, Jan. 4 — or Sunday, Jan. 5, if necessary.
Collections must be prearranged by contacting ofdtreepickup@gmail.com or 978-413-2803, and further details about times and collecting money will be provided. Do not call the Fire Station about the tree pick-up.
“All they have to do is bring their undecorated Christmas trees to the end of the driveway and we will pick it up,” said Orange Fire Lt. Jason Rushford, also the president of the Orange Fireman’s Relief Association.
There is a suggested donation of $5, but people have given more, Rushford said. It all goes toward good causes.
The Orange Fireman’s Relief Association is composed of members of the town’s call force, Rushford explained, and the group puts on three fundraisers each year.
The group provides an annual free dinner to retired Orange firefighters, which is always a nice opportunity to appreciate their service and provide a space and time to share stories and reminisce, Rushford said.
The Orange Fireman’s Relief Association also provides scholarships to students at the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School looking for help with college tuition. Local charities and events, or organizations like the Athol-Orange Lions Club, are also beneficiaries of the Orange Fireman’s Relief Association.
“Basically, we put the money into the community in some way, shape or form,” Rushford said.
In previous years, the Christmas tree collection has raised several hundred dollars, but it varies, he said.
Any money left will help fund the maintenance or purchase of equipment for the Orange Fire Department not funded by the town.
“The town does a great job, but sometimes there’s something else that we want (for the Fire Department) and can’t get,” Rushford said.
In case residents are curious, ultimately the collected trees will end in fire.
According to Rushford, the trees collected this year will be sent to the Winchendon American Legion Post 193, where they will be burned in a large bonfire.
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.